Redemption

Chapter Eighty-One

Danni turned at the sound of someone knocking on the door. Checking her watch, she saw that it was still too early for the ceremony to begin and wondered who it could be. Tara, being the closest to the door, answered it, almost being pushed aside by Danni's parents as they rushed inside to look at their little girl in her wedding dress. Tara had to flatten herself against the surface of the door to let them both pass at the same time without knocking her over or stepping on her shoes. Luckily, she was tiny.

Charlene had tears in her eyes as her gaze rested upon her daughter as she stood in the center of the room, practically glowing with anticipation, the dress only adding to the sublime radiance. It was strapless and though she knew she didn't have to, Danni constantly continued to pull the bodice up to make sure she wouldn't expose herself in the middle of the ceremony.

Most women didn't look good in an A-line pattern, but the dress was a perfect fit for her form. When she'd tried on this dress—after trying on dozens and dozens of others—she knew this was her wedding dress. It was as if she'd been hit on the head with a mallet, signaling that this was the one she should choose. She'd been smitten with the cascading side drape that was positioned with a flower at the waist when she'd seen it on the rack, but once she'd put it on, that little infatuation turned to love. It was simply perfect.

"You look beautiful, sweetheart," Charlene said, her chin quivering with happiness and tears now ruining her makeup. She'd told herself to not go overboard with the mascara and eyeliner, but of course she didn't listen to herself. Now, she was sure she looked like a raccoon and she was afraid to hug her daughter, fearing that she would put a smudge on the beautiful white, satin fabric of the dress.

"Thanks, mom," Danni said, handing the older woman a tissue and grabbing one of her own, just in case. Every time her mother cried, she always seemed to join in. After all, no woman wants to see her mother cry—it was just heartbreaking to witness. After both were sure that there was no more running makeup, the two women hugged, finally enjoying the closeness they'd shared once upon a time.

Pulling away and looking into her mother's eyes, Danni could see the love and pride her mother carried for her inside and though she didn't always show it, she understood that it was always there and always had been. Charlene was happy for her daughter; because she found a wonderful man that she could share her life with.

These last three months, she had actually taken the time to get to know Bobby—despite her previous fears that were masked by hatred—to discover that he was just like Danni. They had been two lost souls wandering the world without their soul-mate, until that fateful day when they'd crossed paths. It was a love story in the making with so much still left for them to express as life moved on.

Danni sniffled; turning to her father—who looked like he was on the verge of tears, himself—she smiled, wrapping him up in the biggest hug she could muster, squeezing as hard as she could to tell him how much she loved him without speaking. She knew if she'd tried that the words wouldn't come and she felt there was no other way to say it but with a hug. "I love you, Daddy," she whispered, placing a kiss upon his cheek, but quickly wiping away the lipstick print she'd left upon his skin.

"I love you too, sweetie," he whispered in return, smiling down at the woman his little girl had turned into. Of course, no matter what, she would always be his little girl; there was no denying that. "I just want to let you know, that no matter what happens your mother and I will always be there for you." It wasn't as if he was saying that the marriage wouldn't last, though it might have sounded that way. He was making sure that she understood that no matter what turmoil—personal or work-related—she could always come to them when she needed guidance. Yet, if they had told her that when she'd gone away to college, they might not have drifted apart as they had.

Could it be possible that with her telling them when the incident happened that she wouldn't have had to go through all the pain and loneliness she'd suffered with for almost ten years? That one decision could have changed everything. She could have been on a completely different path in life, studying music like she had when she first went to college. The question was, would she want things to be different or would she do it all again?

Smiling softly, she concluded that she would do it all again. The pain and anguish would still be there, but there would be the silver-lining that she could no longer live without—Bobby. She would do it all over again just to find him and love him as she does now.

She nodded, sniffling softly as she dabbed her eyes with her tissue. "I know." Clearing her throat to end the touching moment before she burst out into tears and needed to retouch her foundation, she changed the subject. She would be crying enough during the ceremony; she didn't want to start crying before. "How's Bobby? Have you seen him?" One corner of her mouth turned upward when she saw a lone tear trickle down her father's cheek. Quickly, she reached up to wipe it away, giving a full smile when she saw her father again; the strong, dependable man she'd never seen cry.

"He's fine," Charlene replied with a chuckle as she remembered watching Bobby pace the entire room, probably wearing holes in the carpet. She'd never expected her future son-in-law to be so nervous about getting married. She'd figured that dealing with terrorists and the like would be more nerve-wracking. Yet, there was his tall frame, hunched over slightly as he tried to calm himself down. She hoped his mother could do a better job that she'd been able to.

He was riled up again, Jack cursed under his breath. Bobby had resumed pacing after Charlene and Nicholas had left them, their kind words of reassurance only making Bobby more nervous. Second-thoughts were not going to be an option and as best man, Jack was going to make sure that none of them were thought.

He'd had to sit with Bobby for a few minutes, talking quietly to him as Myles stood up to answer the door again. Finally, after convincing Bobby that he was doing the right thing, he breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back in his chair. He never realized how difficult being the best man was. He would have to remind himself of that when he and Sue married and try not to be as nervous as his best friend was.

'Mrs. Sue Hudson,' he thought with a smile. Now, there was a title he could get used to hearing. Of course, before that could happen, he needed to propose and that mere thought got his blood pumping and made his hands feel sweaty. He'd been trying to focus on Bobby all day that he hadn't even realized what today was. Yes, it was Bobby's wedding day, but it was also the day that he would ask Sue to marry him. He knew his plan would make her uncomfortable, but he wanted to shout from the rooftops how much he loved that woman and, in a way, this was how to do it. It was lucky Danni had agreed or he would have had to make a backup plan.

"Bobby?" a soft voice asked, drawing the attention of both men to the woman standing before them. Jack smiled as he watched Bobby stand up and hug his Mum tightly before embracing his Pop in the same manner. "How are you, Luv?"

"Scared out of my wits," Bobby replied honestly, with a chuckle which prompted his parents to chortle as well.

"Good," Pop said, giving his stepson—though Bobby was a true son to him—a pat on the back, "that's the way you're supposed to feel." Pop's green eyes sparkled with humor as he smiled at his son, remembering when he'd been in the exact same position as Bobby was in now and how he was feeling so close to the beginning of the rest of his life. Looking back on it now, it all seemed so trivial and Bobby would too, once the nerves subsided and he began looking at his life.

"Almost ready?" Myles asked from the doorway, after speaking with the priest who was ready to begin whenever Bobby was.

Bobby held up a finger to signal that he needed just one more minute. "How's Danni?" Swallowing hard, he expected them to tell him that she was as cool as a cucumber and that he was worrying over nothing, but that explanation never came.

"Fidgety," Mum said with a smirk and a wink. "I think if you make her wait any longer, she might begin to pace." The irony made them all laugh.

Standing up straight and examining his form in the mirror, Bobby buttoned up the jacket of his tuxedo and took in a deep, soothing breath. It was now or never, "Let's get the show on the road, then," he said, releasing the breath he took in one, large puff of air.